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Dear Heloise: At the beginning of this school year, I made a generic school slip for my kids to use when they need to be excused early or were absent due to illness.

I put a line at the top for the date; a blank line followed by our last name, so I could just fill in the child’s first name; two sections to just check-mark: one for leaving early, with a line for the time, and one for absence due to illness, with a line for the date; and at the bottom, a line for my signature.

I printed four slips per page and keep a pile in my kitchen to just grab when I need to send one in to school. I only wish I had thought of this earlier – no more hunting for a piece of paper to write a note in the early-morning school rush! – Jane Schaffner, via e-mail